Permeable diaphragm pump



July 9, 1968 w. J. WEEKS 3,391,963

PERMEABLE D IAPHRAGM PUMP Filed Feb. 6, 1967 Wfla f f (I We e14;

INVENTOR.

ATTO/P/VEV United States Patent o PERMEABLE DIAPHRAGM PUMP Wyatt J.Weeks, Houston, Tex., assignor to Handle};- Weeks, Inc., Houston, Tex.,a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 614,241

2 Claims. (Cl, 302 36) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pump for moving finegranulated aerated dry material, having means for drawing a supply ofthe material into the pump upon movement of the pump diaphragm in onedirection and discharging said supply of material upon the movement ofthe pump diaphragm in the opposite direction, imparting a power thrustto the supply of material discharged.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a permeablediaphragm pump.

Background the invention A pump for finely granulated aerated drymaterial having a flexible, permeable diaphragm mounted in a novelhousing providing easy manipulation of the diaphragm during pumpingoperations, without excessive wear, and that is self-cleaning, cleansingitself of material being pumped upon each stroke, and having novel meansfor applying and directing the flow of an operating fluid.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of thepump in a pumping operation, with relation to unloading a car of drygranulated material, and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, in substantially longitudinal axialcross section, of the pump and connecting conduits.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a conduit leading to amaterial container such as the car 2, which connects into the inletconduit 3 in which the spring loaded valve 4 is mounted. The pumphousing consists of the joined conical shaped members 5, 6 having theoutwardly extending flanges 7, 8 at the abutting ends with means forjoining said sections as the nuts and bolts 9, 10.

The inlet conduit 3 preferably discharges into the housing sectionthrough the side wall thereof, and a discharge conduit 11 is mounted onthe small end of the housing member 5, and the discharge port 12 extendsinto said conduit 11 and forms the valve seat for the spring loadedvalve 13, mounted in the discharge conduit 11.

One end of the pipe line 14 is mounted in the discharge end of thedischarge conduit 11. A plugged port 15 is formed in the dischargeconduit 11 to permit air to be introduced into the line 14 to clean outsaid line, or to reaerate the material flowing therethrough.

3,391,963 Patented July 9, 1968 ice A permeable diaphragm, such as aheavy canvas 16, is mounted in the pump housing by anchoring theperiphery thereof between the flanges 7, 8. A piston 17 is axiallyanchored to one end of the piston rod 18 and'the diaphragm 16 isanchored to the piston 17 by the washers 19, 19. The outer periphery ofthe piston 17 is beveled to reduce wear on the diaphragm 16. 1 1

On the small endof the housing member 6 is the tubular extension 20 intowhich the piston rod 18 extends, being supported by the bushing 21. Onthe extended end of the rod 18 is the switch actuator 22 and a similaractuator 23 is mounted on the piston rod 18 adjacent the opposite end. Asliding shaft 24, mounted in the extension 20, and having the notch 25in which the toggle lever 26 of the switch 27 is mounted, is positionedto make contact with the respective actuators 22, 23, at the respectiveends of the stroke of the piston, to reverse the direction of flow ofthe power fluid. A conduit 28 extends into the housing member 6 at oneend, and its other end is mounted on the flow control valve 30. Theswitch 27 is pneumatically connected to the valve actuator 29, and asource of power, such as an air compressor (not shown) has a positiveand negative conduit connection 31, 32 in the flow control valve 30, anda discharge port 33, provides a vent for the negative stroke of thepump.

When the pump is activated, the power fluid will be pumped through thepositive conduit connection 31 into the housing member 6, forcing thepiston 17 and diaphragm 16 outwardly, exerting a thrust on the contentsof the housing 5, compressing the contents and opening the valve 13 andpushing the material in the housing 5 into the conduit 14. The diaphragm16 being permeable, air will flow through the diaphragm, and will aid inpushing the material into the conduit 14, and will at the same time,maintain the diaphragm free of any granular material at the terminationof each power stroke. Upon reaching the end of the power stroke, theactuator 22 will contact the sliding shaft 24 and move same with ituntil the toggle 26 will have switched, and the control 29 will changethe air flow in the housing 6 from positive to negative, discharging theair drawn therefrom through the port 33, and drawing the piston 17 anddiaphragm 16 in the opposite direction, permitting the valve 13 to closeand opening the valve 4, and drawing into the housing 5 another chargeof aerated material, until the actuator 23 contacts the sliding shaft 24and moves same with it until the toggle 26 will have switched and thecontrol 29 changed the air flow in the housing 6 from negative topositive, and the cycle is repeated.

While the foregoing is considered a preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is by way of illustration only, the broad principle of theinvention being defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a permeable diaphragm pump, a pair of conical housing members, thewide ends of said members being in abutting relation, an inlet conduitand a discharge conduit leading into one of said members, spring loadedvalves in said conduits, a tubular extension on the small end of theother of said housing members, a piston rod mounted in said housing andreciprocating in said extension, an air permeable flexible diaphragmhaving its outer periphery anchored between said abutting ends of saidhousing members, a piston on said piston rod and axially engaged withsaid diaphragm, and means for reciprocating said piston, opening theinlet valve and closing the discharge valve when the piston moves in onedirection and opening the discharge valve and closing the inlet valvewhen the piston moves in the other direction.

2. In a permeable diaphragm pump, a pair of conical housing members, thewide ends of said members being in abutting relation, an inlet conduitand a discharge conduif leading into one of said members, said dischargeeoni References Cited' dfli-thflVi-Hgfifi -3il -il1iet f0l' reaerating.thetmaterial being- 2;. v.,. a A .UNITED; PATEN' FS ,ggihnlvz; pumped,spring loaded valves in said conduits, a tubular extension on the smallend of the other of said housing 1005098 10/1911 Van Berendonck 30241 Xmembers, a piston rod mounted in said housing and -re- 5 30481121 8/19629 3 103-452 ciprocating in'said extension, a flexible diaphragm having3: 1 g l y 1 a H, z

1ts outer periphery anchored between sald abutting ends 99,826 /1967. wifims of said housing members, a piston on said piston rod and 0 7 5axially engaged with said diaphragm, and means for reciprocating saidpiston, opening the inletwvalve andelosing 1O EVON BLUNK f I thedischarge valve when the piston movesin one direc- RICHARD E. AEGERTER,'Exdmin ei'.

tion and opening the discharge valve and closing the inlet M L AJEMANAsSismht-Exdminr valve when the piston moves in the other direction. t

